Us being in New York is a possibility," LaLa said. "It depends on Melo's career and where it takes him. There's a lot of talk about the Knicks, I mean, there's a lot of teams out there, he's a great player and I think collectively we just need to think about what makes sense for our family. But I would never say that being in New York is not an option. I'd be lying to you if I said that."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Their interest in the New York Knicks is understandable.
LaLa Vasquez and Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony have ties to the east coast. Both were born in Brooklyn. She was raised in New York; he spent his formative years in Baltimore and won an NCAA championship at Syracuse University.
So we get it. They’re connected to The Big Apple.
Then there’s the culture de jour of the NBA. Today, most superstars want to play in sexy markets for big revenue teams who’ll spend to win. In fact, they believe this is their divine right.
Translation: New York, the Knicks, and Madison Square Gardens appeal to Vasquez and Anthony.
But ‘Melo has a contract. For 2011. With Denver. And he doesn’t become a free agent for ten months, and then, and only then, will he get to pick his next home. All the chatter is premature.
Of course, a trade could happen. Key word: could. The Nuggets – not Anthony or Vasquez – will make this decision.
Until the organization that has supported and paid him so handsomely makes this call, Anthony and Vasquez should tone things down.
Anthony needs to release a statement saying he won’t discuss the future because he’s focusing on the upcoming season, while Vasquez needs to avoid the press.
Not only will the league’s power couple look professional, it will provide a much needed cooling off period for the Nuggets and Knicks to, perhaps, swing a trade.
After all, such a trade is complicated. The Nuggets would be cutting ties with their franchise face. The Knicks would have time to find an appropriate mix of assets to offer.
Bottom line: the publicity, the 24-hour Carmelo Anthony news cycle, the gossip, the rumors aren’t in anyone’s interest.
In fact, it’s only making a migration to the NYC more complicated for Vasquez and Anthony.
--Oly Sandor.Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

If the Rockets or Nets can present an offer that is agreeable to the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony is open to being traded to, and signing a long-term extension with, one of these two clubs. The story was reported by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, citing multiple league sources familiar with the situation.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: If Carmelo Anthony wanted to stay with the Denver Nuggets, he would've taken their three-year, $65 million contract offer.

This thing would've been signed, sealed, and delivered long ago. There's no deal and the speculation is hitting fever pitch.

After all, reports indicate Anthony has zero intention of re-upping with Denver. Instead, he wants to opt-out of his contract next July, hit free agency, and pick his new home.

So the Nuggets have two options. First, they can ignore the headlines, hope the seemingly inevitable doesn't occur, and pray that Anthony re-signs.

This is unlikely, and will result in Anthony's pending free agency becoming such a distraction the season will be compromised. Then he'll leave.

Second, they can accept the inevitable and trade him for a new cast of players to surround star point guard Chauncey Billups. The list of suitors for Anthony reportedly includes the Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, and Orlando Magic.

The Nuggets should be able to find a deal to their liking. In fact, it seems they don't have much choice.

A "methodical connecting of dots" is beginning to paint a grim picture in Denver. These are some of the dots: Carmelo's selling his Littleton estate; the constant reports of Anthony telling friends that he wants to play for the New York Knicks; his New York wedding; his East Coast upbringing; summer trade talk that has cropped up twice in his time in Denver, which hasn't always made him feel wanted; oh, and not signing a contract that averages around $21.6 million per year for the next three years, a sizable amount of money that he may not be able to earn under a new collective bargaining agreement.

Perhaps, Carmelo Anthony passes on the Denver Nuggets three-year, $65 million extension and takes less money and term to sign with the New York Knicks.

One sign has been overlooked: the All-Star forward has been especially active in negotiating a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with owners. The old CBA expires next summer, which is when Anthony can become a free agent.

His participation in union-owner meetings shows Anthony is very much weighing what he’d have to sacrifice to leave Denver for New York. Heading east has crossed his mind.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is a free agent next summer and he has told friends that he's "eager to explore playing" for the New York Knicks when his contract is up, according to CBSSports.com.LinkHoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Will he ‘eagerly’ sacrifice millions of dollars to leave the Denver Nuggets and sign with the New York Knicks?
This, of course, is the important point. Not that Anthony likes the Five Burroughs.
Carmelo Anthony, a free agent in 2011, obviously has his eyes on the bright lights of Madison Square Gardens and New York City.
After all, Anthony and wife Lala Vaszuez were both born in Brooklyn. The Knicks are a classic franchise with the resources to sign the scorer and provide a supporting cast.
Problem is, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires next summer. And NBA owners want a new CBA that limits the power superstars like Anthony have over franchises.
So the Nuggets will have even greater leverage over Anthony. Perhaps they’ll be able to offer him even more money than other teams. Perhaps they’ll be able to tack on an additional two years to his contract. Or perhaps the entire system changes and Anthony doesn’t become a free agent.
Eager or not, there are many factors to be determined before Anthony heads east for New York.
--Oly Sandor.Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Carmelo Anthony may soon face the same predicament close friend LeBron James was in -- playing for a club good enough to compete but not to win a championship. We all know what choice LeBron made, and Anthony could make a similar decision next year. Anthony has been long rumored to favor the Knicks, who didn't waste their remaining salary cap money on lesser free agents, choosing to save the cash. The Nuggets stayed relatively quiet in the offseason besides the additions of Al Harrington and Shelden Williams, and they don't look dramatically different from the team that lost in the first round to Utah in May. Unless the Nuggets make some dramatic moves over the next 12 months, they risk losing Anthony for nothing.

Carmelo Anthony could leave as a free agent. The Nuggets could get nothing back. And the city of Denver could get angry with Anthony like Cleveland did with LeBron James.

However, two things work in the Nuggets' favour. First, there isn't a crew of superstars to lure him from Denver. The New York Knicks have cap space, Amar'e Stoudemire, and play in the media capital of the world.

They don't have a once in a generation swingman like Dwyane Wade, though.

Second, a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is coming next summer, likely before Anthony hits free agency. The new CBA will surely give teams' greater power in retaining top free agents because owners are frustrated with the leverage superstars have.

So Anthony may have to sacrifice significant money and/or term to leave Denver for the New York Knicks.

This could still happen. Anthony could also decide to take the most money available and re-sign with the Nuggets

In a Friday telephone interview, Donnie Walsh said there were no plans for Isiah Thomas to resume a full-time position with the Knicks. Walsh said Thomas had initiated the discussions on returning to the team in some formal capacity.

"Isiah can help us in the areas that he’ll consult with us in," Walsh said.

And the Knicks are hoping Thomas’ communication skills can land them two more free agents. Next summer, they want Carmelo Anthony. Two summers from now, they’re scheming on Chris Paul.

Perhaps, this isn’t insanity. Perhaps, this is a calculated risk.

After all, the Knicks have Thomas on their terms. Most of the time, he’ll be coaching at Florida International University. When needed, he’s available to give his opinion on prospects or help woo free agents.

The Knicks will only be utilizing Thomas’ strengths, and not giving him an opportunity or chance to show his obvious weaknesses as an administrator.

Perhaps this isn’t insanity or even a calculated risk. Public relations aside, this type of ad hoc, casual arrangement could work for the team and Thomas.

Michael Jordan’s franchise is stuck in a perpetual motion of doom. Defensively, the Bobcats are great. Overall, they are a mess with lottery picks given away in trades. Do they want a point guard or a center? Why not try to get both? The Bobcats never had a superstar. They were hoping that Emeka Okafor would become that guy, but that did not work out. They’re stuck with a team that is somewhat formulated just like the Detroit Pistons of 2004 considering that Larry Brown is there. Unfortunately, the team is not as good as Detroit.

Carmelo Anthony is not expected to sign an extension with the Nuggets this summer, according to sources close to the situation. "Sources close to the situation don't expect Carmelo Anthony to sign an extension with the Denver Nuggets this summer," Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld wrote on his Twitter page.
If Anthony doesn't sign an extension this summer, he'll hit the free agent market next July.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It is risky business -and we're not referring to that bad Tom Cruise flick from the eighties.

Carmelo Anthony could lose millions of dollars if he passes on the Denver Nuggets' three-year, $65 million contract extension and opts for free agency next July.

Of course, July of 2011 is also when the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement expires. After the inevitable lock-out, a new CBA will be ratified, and all players, even superstars such as Anthony, will likely face a pay cut. The length of their max contracts will also be reduced.

So the Nuggets, along with every team in the league, will have less to offer Anthony.

There's also the stumbling economy. If ticket sales and sponsorships don't improve, the free agent market will sag. The great equalizer is, as always, the New York Knicks. This wealthy franchise has the resources to offer Anthony the largest contract possible under whatever financial system is being used.

Relying on the Knicks is still a risk, though. It's one Anthony seems willing to make.

For the NBA's youngest scoring champion, Kevin Durant has displayed some kind of maturity. With Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the rest of the Beijing Olympic team taking the summer off, USA Basketball's roster is wide open for next month's world championships in Turkey. championships.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: He will be the leader for USA Basketball at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Three years into his NBA career, Kevin Durant has impressed. He has helped the Oklahoma City Thunder become the team to watch. He has become an elite player. And he has handled himself with class.

However, the global spotlight will be unlike anything he has ever faced.

The international game is different than the NBA. Other national teams have played together for years, establishing chemistry, while the Americans are making do with a summer training camp.

And stars and stripes are undermanned, with every player on the gold medal winning squad from China passing on Turkey. That's right: No Kobe, LeBron, 'D-Wade', 'Melo, Chris Bosh, or even twelfth man Carlos Boozer.

The entire Redeem Team is out. They all said thanks, but no thanks.

Whether by default or not, Durant is The Man. He and his teammates will face a significant challenge.